Illegal immigrant caught with pirate and porn DVDs – WalesOnline

Oct 23 2008 by Gary Marsh, Cynon Valley Leader

AN illegal immigrant who admitted being in possession of nearly 1,000 pirate films and pornography has been jailed.

Zhong Mei Teng admitted more than 12 charges put to him by Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff Trading Standards following a number of searches of his address and person during the last year. Teng said he intended to sell to raise money for his children in China.

After admitting the offences at Cardiff Crown Court this month, he was jailed for a total of 12 months. The judge also recommended he be deported at the end of his sentence because he is in the UK illegally.

The court heard how Teng was first arrested on September 3, 2007, at the Treforest Industrial Estate after Rhondda Cynon Taff Trading Standards officers found him to be in possession of 430 copied DVDS and 121 illegal pornography discs.

His arrest and search led to the execution of a warrant at his address in Cardiff, where a further 322 counterfeit DVDs were found.

As a result of this incident, Teng was charged and bailed to appear at Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court – and failed to appear.

On July 9 this year, he was once again arrested in Church Village and found to be in possession of 143 copied DVDs and 54 illegal pornography discs.

He was charged with further offences and remanded in custody.

Appearing at Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court, Teng admitted three offences under the 1994 Trade Marks Act and three offences under the 1984 Video Recordings Act – all six of which relate to the offences of July 9, 2008.

He also admitted a further six offences under the same two acts in relation to the September 2007 offences committed in Church Village.

Finally he admitted three offences under the 1994 Trade Marks Act, one offence under the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, three Video Recordings Act 1984 offences and three offences under the 1959 Obscene Publications Act in relation to the Cardiff offences.

In defence, Teng said he made the illegal sales in order to make the money he needed to send back to his children in China.

The court was told he was not the main person involved and that he had entered the UK nine years ago and had not been granted asylum.

Teng had literacy problems and could not speak English.

He was jailed for six months for each charge relating to the September 3 offences, to run concurrently.

He was sentenced to a further six months for each of the July 9 offences.

He will be deported from Britain upon his release from jail.